dr. suess /a tribute

For those of you who don’t know, although I find that hard to believe, Dr. Seuss, is the pen-name of Theodor Seuss Geisel. The writer with an uncanny ability to create rhymes.

By the time of his death on September 24, 1991, Ted had written and illustrated 44 children’s books, including such all-time favorites as Green Eggs and Ham, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, Fox in Socks, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Besides the books, his works have provided the source for eleven children’s television specials, a Broadway musical and a feature-length motion picture. His honors included two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.

The Dr. Seuss books have always been favorites of mine. The illustrations are fabulous! I mean really, so simple but so creative at the same time. He created not only unique characters, but a world that surrounded the characters that you can’t help but love.

I am a designer, artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer. That’s a lot, but the truth is it’s one thing, trying to communicate what I see in my head, no matter the medium I choose, I’m trying to convey a message. Being all the things I listed before, I truly admire Dr. Seuss.

The great thing about art, is the that one’s vision can be achieved and become a reality that can be shared, by sheer force of will (nod to The Vampire Diaries writers –Klaus). I’d have to ask Ted himself but I think Dr. Seuss’s vision was achieved and received by all.

I have created and illustrated several children’s books, and from a design perspective, the Dr. Seuss books are really ahead of their time.

The reason why Dr. Seuss came to mind today is simple. One of my all time favorites quotes, actually several of my all time favorite quotes come from the brilliant albeit slightly weird (in the best possible way) mind of Dr. Seuss. I was thinking about it and the best lessons you could possibly ever learn can be found in his words. Simple, straight to the point, and TRUE!

I mean really, how much better can it get? : )

Here are some other quotes from Dr. Seuss… Each has a message, some louder than others, all worth reading, and breathing.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

I meant what I said and I said what I meant.

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?